Drowning Spurs Move for Fence Along Riverfront

By Camden NJ History
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Newspaper clipping: Drowning Spurs Move for Fence Along Riverfront, February 20, 1950
Camden Courier-Post, February 20, 1950
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Drowning Spurs Move for Fence Along Riverfront City officials will be asked to erect a fence along Delaware river between Seventh and Eighth streets in an effort to prevent children from playing near the water. That was announced today by a North Camden resident as the result of the drowning Saturday of Robert Allebach, 10, of 533 Bailey street, who fell from a raft while playing with other children. The boy's father, George Allebach, 50, a former employe of the New York Shipbuilding Corp., has been confined to his home in a wheelchair since he suffered a stroke. The child's mother, Alice, is recovering at home from a lengthy illness. Neighborhood Action Urged Mrs. Ruth Stuhl, 37, of 523 Bailey street, mother of seven children, six of whom are at home, said that after Robert's funeral she will contact parents and all neighbors in the area to start action in asking the city to build a fence. One of Mrs. Stuhl's children was playing with Robert before the accident. Mrs. Stuhl's husband is William J. Stuhl, 47, blind news dealer at the RCA plant between Market and Front streets. She said they will ask the Pyne Poynt Athletic Association to take some action to promote greater safety for the children. "I would like to see a fence along the river," Mrs. Stuhl said. "Even if we have to contribute to pay a guard to keep the children from going near the water would be one answer. "The boys of the neighborhood complain the park guards chase them from the grass spots when they play in Pyne Poynt Park," Mrs. Stuhl continued, "when they go to the lower level they are chased by the bigger boys and that's when they go to the inlet and across to the peninsula." The drowning victim, a fifth-grade pupil at Read school, Fifth and York streets, was playing with four boys along the banks of the inlet of the river, adjoining Pyne Poynt park. Rescue Try Fails With him were Charles Stamp, 11, of 529 Bailey street; Timothy Brady, 9, of 530 Bailey street; William Reese, 11, of 924 North Fifth street, and Bobby Stuhl. On a "dare" from the others, Robert set out across the inlet on a raft, about the size of a door, for a barge moored on the other side, 25 feet away. The raft tilted and Robert, unable to swim, was thrown into the water. The Stamp boy tried to save him by holding out a long pole, which the drowning boy grasped, but lost his grip and went down. The other boys ran across lots to Seventh and Erie strets [sic] to notify a passerby who summoned police. No. 1 Rescue Squad from fire headquarters, Fifth and Arch streets, responded, and Firemen Arthur Batten and John Gryckiewicz, in a rescue boat, recovered the body in 10 mintes [sic] of grappling. Funeral Wednesday Squad members immediately applied artificial respiration and Dr. J. C. Lippincott, an interne at Cooper hospital, administered stimulants, but without success. The boy was pronounced dead at the hospital. Besides his parents, he is survived by two brothers, Kenneth, 3, and George, 19, and two sisters, Shirley, 15, and Delores, 18. Services will be held in the home Wednesday at 2 p. m., where friends may call Tuesday night. Burial will be in Bethel Memorial Park, Pennsauken. The funeral will be under direction of Robert J. Blake. Pallbearers will include his friends, William Reese, Timothy Brady, Charles Stamp and George Stuhl. Two young cousins also will serve, the mother said.

City officials will be asked to erect a fence along Delaware river between Seventh and Eighth streets in an effort to prevent children from playing near the water.

That was announced today by a North Camden resident as the result of the drowning Saturday of Robert Allebach, 10, of 533 Bailey street, who fell from a raft while playing with other children.

The boy's father, George Allebach, 50, a former employe of the New York Shipbuilding Corp., has been confined to his home in a wheelchair since he suffered a stroke. The child's mother, Alice, is recovering at home from a lengthy illness.

Neighborhood Action Urged

Mrs. Ruth Stuhl, 37, of 523 Bailey street, mother of seven children, six of whom are at home, said that after Robert's funeral she will contact parents and all neighbors in the area to start action in asking the city to build a fence. One of Mrs. Stuhl's children was playing with Robert before the accident.

Mrs. Stuhl's husband is William J. Stuhl, 47, blind news dealer at the RCA plant between Market and Front streets. She said they will ask the Pyne Poynt Athletic Association to take some action to promote greater safety for the children.

"I would like to see a fence along the river," Mrs. Stuhl said. "Even if we have to contribute to pay a guard to keep the children from going near the water would be one answer.

"The boys of the neighborhood complain the park guards chase them from the grass spots when they play in Pyne Poynt Park," Mrs. Stuhl continued, "when they go to the lower level they are chased by the bigger boys and that's when they go to the inlet and across to the peninsula."

The drowning victim, a fifth-grade pupil at Read school, Fifth and York streets, was playing with four boys along the banks of the inlet of the river, adjoining Pyne Poynt park.

Rescue Try Fails

With him were Charles Stamp, 11, of 529 Bailey street; Timothy Brady, 9, of 530 Bailey street; William Reese, 11, of 924 North Fifth street, and Bobby Stuhl.

On a "dare" from the others, Robert set out across the inlet on a raft, about the size of a door, for a barge moored on the other side, 25 feet away. The raft tilted and Robert, unable to swim, was thrown into the water.

The Stamp boy tried to save him by holding out a long pole, which the drowning boy grasped, but lost his grip and went down.

The other boys ran across lots to Seventh and Erie strets [sic] to notify a passerby who summoned police. No. 1 Rescue Squad from fire headquarters, Fifth and Arch streets, responded, and Firemen Arthur Batten and John Gryckiewicz, in a rescue boat, recovered the body in 10 mintes [sic] of grappling.

Funeral Wednesday

Squad members immediately applied artificial respiration and Dr. J. C. Lippincott, an interne at Cooper hospital, administered stimulants, but without success. The boy was pronounced dead at the hospital.

Besides his parents, he is survived by two brothers, Kenneth, 3, and George, 19, and two sisters, Shirley, 15, and Delores, 18.

Services will be held in the home Wednesday at 2 p. m., where friends may call Tuesday night. Burial will be in Bethel Memorial Park, Pennsauken. The funeral will be under direction of Robert J. Blake.

Pallbearers will include his friends, William Reese, Timothy Brady, Charles Stamp and George Stuhl. Two young cousins also will serve, the mother said.

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